Since 2010, chairmen have been required by the UK Code on Corporate Governance to personally report on how the principles relating to the role and effectiveness of the board are being applied. Yet, the “chairmen of FTSE 350 companies are failing to take responsibility for corporate governance, with half making no mention of the issue in their annual report statements according to a review by Grant Thornton.”

“As some 200 leaders assemble today for the climate change conference in Durban, most eyes seem averted from the life-and-death issues up for debate.” Elections and economic volatility have stolen the focus. Climate change remains urgent. “The stakes in Durban are higher than ever as countries wrestle over ways to halt rising temperatures and, specifically, over renewal of the 1997 Kyoto protocol.” Time is running out. Failure to reach a new agreement would be “disastrous.”

With popular support, Alabama adopted a strict law to cut down on illegal immigrants, who constituted over 4% of Alabama’s work force. The results have been costly and support is waning. The price of intolerance is proving too high. “Farmers can tally the cost of crops left to rot as workers flee. Governments can calculate the loss of revenues when taxpayers flee. It’s harder to measure the price of a ruined business reputation or the value of investments lost or productivity lost.”

Domestic car makers are balking over proposed fuel efficiency requirements designed to bring corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards up to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The standards should be enacted. “Technology has caught up with every previous standard, allowing Americans to save fuel while still driving the largest vehicles in the world….The result will be a major step toward independence from foreign oil, with the least possible disturbance of American driving habits.”Domestic car makers are balking over proposed fuel efficiency requirements designed to bring corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards up to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The standards should be enacted. “Technology has caught up with every previous standard, allowing Americans to save fuel while still driving the largest vehicles in the world….The result will be a major step toward independence from foreign oil, with the least possible disturbance of American driving habits.”

The news on climate change grows worse and worse, so too the odds of politicians doing something. They should. “Voters will support climate policy if they see it as an opportunity and not an end to their way of life. Achieving this matters as much for our planet’s future as what is agreed – or not – in Durban.”

The news on climate change grows worse and worse, so too the odds of politicians doing something. They should. “Voters will support climate policy if they see it as an opportunity and not an end to their way of life. Achieving this matters as much for our planet’s future as what is agreed – or not – in Durban.”

“What safe haven?” As worries spread, the entire Euro zone looks increasingly tainted. “There is an awful sense of a slow motion disaster in the markets at the moment, with every day bringing some herald of bad news.” The latest bad news involved Germany. Once considered a safe haven, Germany was only able to auction €4 billion of a planned €6 billion bund sale.

“What safe haven?” As worries spread, the entire Euro zone looks increasingly tainted. “There is an awful sense of a slow motion disaster in the markets at the moment, with every day bringing some herald of bad news.” The latest bad news involved Germany. Once considered a safe haven, Germany was only able to auction €4 billion of a planned €6 billion bund sale.

“Fears of a financial crisis hitting the UK are at their highest level since the collapse of Lehman Brothers.” The risk of “a high impact event” occurring has risen to the highest level since the 2008 collapse according to the Bank of England’s Systemic Risk Survey. 76% of respondents identified “sovereign risk and the threat of an economic downturn” as “the biggest danger to the financial system.”

Will the century belong to China or India? Quite possibly, it will be “Chindian.” The two countries have much in common, especially in terms of growing economic might, yet remain a distinct ying and yang. Neither allies, nor enemies, they exist in parallel. There is room for concern lest harmony be upset. “The close economic ties between nations that often prevent conflict do not sufficiently exist between China and India.”

Will the century belong to China or India? Quite possibly, it will be “Chindian.” The two countries have much in common, especially in terms of growing economic might, yet remain a distinct ying and yang. Neither allies, nor enemies, they exist in parallel. There is room for concern lest harmony be upset. “The close economic ties between nations that often prevent conflict do not sufficiently exist between China and India.”

Japan’s lost decades are not so bad when seen in light of a decreasing population. “In aggregate, Japan’s economy grew at half the pace of America’s between 2001 and 2010. Yet if judged by growth in GDP per person over the same period, then Japan has outperformed America and the euro zone.”

Japan’s lost decades are not so bad when seen in light of a decreasing population. “In aggregate, Japan’s economy grew at half the pace of America’s between 2001 and 2010. Yet if judged by growth in GDP per person over the same period, then Japan has outperformed America and the euro zone.”

“The past month hasn’t been good for climate-change skeptics.” More evidence has been produced in support of climate change. While there is still much uncertainty about the specifics, “the debate should no longer be about whether the world is warming or whether there is reason to act. It must be about how to respond.”